The Great British Sewing Bee Tote Bag Kit, GBSB Kids Sewing Project

I bought this for my 10 year old great niece who was interested in sewing having watched my wife. The kit contained everything needed. The instructions were fairly easy to follow but best to have someone who sews on hand to assist if needed. Took about an hour to complete which was about right for her concentration level. Overall very impressed with the package.

The kit includes two pieces of material for the bag, a length of strap roughly 1 mtr long and a small piece of lace. My daughter enjoyed making it but it needs a tenner taking off the price! She bought this with her Xmas money so I'm extremely disappointed and angry.

Grew at present for my granddaughter

Bought for my granddaughter aged 11 as she received a sewing machine for Christmas.She has loved doing this project.

Christmas present, Granddaughter will love it

Haven’t made it yet but looks great

With apologies to the Toyrific rep who has been patrolling the reviews section and suggesting that Vine Voice reviewers might like to modify their reviews (in a blatant breach of terms of use), but this is a deeply underwhelming product that is significantly overpriced.The bag is intended to be a very easy project. It certainly is that, and you are given barely adequate supplies to make it. It is assumed that you already have a sewing machine (preferably, from the Toyrific point of view, one of their Great British Sewing Bee branded children's machines), pins, scissors, thread, machine needles and a tape measure. It is simply stingy not to include pins, thread and a basic tape measure.So what do you get for your money?- Two precut pieces of fabric that cut down slightly to form the sides of the bag- a longish strip of wide webbing that becomes the bag straps- a strip of narrow, retro-style cream lace- a paper pattern (a rectangle, with seam allowances of 1cm)- a pretty, pastel instruction bookletThis really isn't very much, and whilst the lace and the webbing are good quality, I'm not hugely impressed by the fabric which arrived with quite frayed edges. The propensity to fray means that this is not one an ideal fabric for children/beginners to handle. The bag is unlined, and the packaging reference to 'assorted fabrics' is completely misleading: you get two pieces of a single fabric (neither of which is even as large as a fat quarter). I infer this should actually read 'fabric may vary' - a fairly standard disclaimer for a product of this type.There is absolutely no reason for which this should be 'best' used with a Toyrific branded Sewing Bee machine. It's sewing. It can be done on any machine. Or, indeed, by hand. A good quality adult machine (such as a Bernina) is likely to have a half speed setting that's ideal for learners and some lovely vintage Singer (and other brand) machines that don't use electricity at all can be picked up very reasonably.

I like this sewing kit and I'm all for introducing children to sewing and crafts. A number of reviewers have raised points about the kit and I think they were addressed it would have made a huge difference to how this was perceived.I think that badging this 6+ is not unrealistic - I was using a sewing machine from the age of seven as my mother was an excellent needlewoman and it does say that it needs an adult to supervise throughout the project. As other reviewers have mentioned, it's a shame that pins and thread aren't included, especially at this price, as it means that the project can't be started the moment you open it up unless the household already has access to these. I also agree with the reviewers who make the point that the packaging here is very girly, although it's good to see the boy on the cover of the apron kit  Toyrific Great British Sewing Bee Apron Kit .Pros+ A child can quickly get the satisfaction of having made something+ The kit is well packaged and explainedCons- The RRP of just under £20 is high - it's discounted to just under £15 as I write- I think it's packaged and priced for the birthday gift market this one is very girly in tone